NOIRLab Finance Director

The Finance Director provides leadership and direction to the NOIRLab finance team. This team provides budget, financial analysis, forecasting, and reporting services to support NOIRLab at the Director level as well as the Programs and Services at NOIRLab.

The Finance Director reports to the NOIRLab Associate Director for Administration. The position is a member of the NOIRLab Management Team and works closely with the Management Team on all financial aspects of managing the Lab.

Essential Functions

• Oversees the tracking of high-level financial progress at both the Cooperative Support Agreement and Program/Service level to include funding levels, spending, and obligations.
• Facilitates monthly and quarterly NOIRLab budget reviews, reporting and variance analysis. Reviews and recommends approval of revised estimate-at-completion forecasts. Ensure that account managers have accurate and timely financial data.
• Interfaces with AURA Central Administrative Services (CAS) on finance and accounting topics including expenses, award management, and other administrative and financial matters.
• Partners with AURA CAS in budget development and review of guidelines, timelines, and deliverables.
• Partners with AURA CAS in development of indirect cost budgets and indirect cost rate proposals to the National Science Foundation (NSF). Understands the relationship between direct and indirect costs and ways to proactively monitor and manage them throughout the year.
• Supports proposal preparation in alignment with AURA policy and NSF requirements, including development of budgets, supporting narratives, bases of estimate and other supporting material.
• Contributes to the preparation of a wide range of AURA and NSF level financial reports and cost proposals including annual Program Operating Plan budget submissions to the NSF and other sponsors, quarterly and annual budget reports, and cost proposals to funding agencies. Specific tasks may include narratives, tables, and other material.
• Prepares materials for various NSF, AURA, and NOIRLab governance and oversight meetings.
• Utilizes expert knowledge of AURA policy, and Federal regulations, policies, procedures, proposal process and the cost principles that govern financial management of an FFRDC.
• Responsible for the planning and scheduling of departmental work and the evaluation of quality and timeliness of such work on a regular schedule as well as through annual performance reviews.
• All AURA employees are responsible for the proper management and control of all AURA property within their work area, whether assigned to them or someone else. This responsibility includes reporting any known missing, stolen, or non-working property in their work area to their supervisor or the AURA Property Officer.
• Responsible for ensuring compliance with government award terms and conditions assigned to this position or subordinates of this position.
• Supervises the Center Finance staff members

Other Functions

• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field.
• 8+ years of progressively responsible applicable experience, including staff supervision, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Skill in working as part of a team and leading a team of professional staff both onsite and in a remote environment.
• Ability to initiate, plan, and autonomously execute a wide variety of financial planning, budgeting, and reporting duties requiring independent judgment and creativity.
• Possess expert understanding of the federal Uniform Guidance (2CFR Part 200).
• Advanced knowledge of the concepts, theories, principles, and practices of accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, including disseminating financial information to non-financial colleagues.
• Ability to complete work within short deadlines and competing priorities.
• Fosters positive and respectful working relationships with scientific, technical, and administrative staff, colleagues and customers, both internally and externally.
• Highly collaborative team player who fosters open communication and facilitates mutual understanding and cooperation between all stakeholders
• Successfully manages work in an environment of frequent change and adapts to new processes, procedures, and policies.
• Routinely anticipates issues and offers solutions.

Preferences

• Graduate degree in business, accounting, or equivalent relevant experience.
• CPA or Certification in relevant federal regulations pertinent to the financial management of a federally funded organization.

Work Environment

This position operates in a professional office environment and routinely utilizes standard office equipment, including computers, phones, and copiers. The work environment is generally quiet and may involve working in close proximity to others, depending on the needs of the specific function.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position at least 50% of the time.
• Occasional need to move about inside the office environment to access files, office tools, attendance in a meeting room, etc.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity tools that require fine motor skills, such as a calculator, copy machine, computer printer, etc.
• May occasionally need to position self to maintain computer and related tools.
• Seldomly needed to move objects up to 10 pounds.
• Constant communication with other individuals. Must be able to discern and exchange information as appropriate to the situation.
• Constant need to distinguish, discern, and identify a variety of objects and fine details with accuracy.
• Some travel may be necessary in or outside the contiguous United States including travel to the various observatory sites (Arizona, Chile and Hawai`i).
• Occasional work at high elevation summit sites may be required (summit elevations range from 6,800 feet to 14,000 feet).

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required by personnel so classified.

This Institute promotes Equal Employment Opportunity workplace that includes reasonable accommodations to otherwise qualified, disabled applicants and employees.

Salary Range

$140,000 - $170,000. The final salary will depend on skills, qualification, experience and job location.

AURA offers an excellent benefits package including paid time off and retirement contributions, competitive salary commensurate with experience, and a very attractive work environment. Details on benefits can be found at Benefits by Location - Aura Human Resources.

How to Apply

Apply by May 9th for priority consideration. This position will remain open until it is filled. Please submit a cover letter and a CV or resume, PDF files preferred. Please name any attachments with the following format: LastName DocName.

Individuals needing assistance with the employment process can request assistance at employment@aura-astronomy.org